Let me quote a few lines from a Vancouver Province newspaper editorial from Friday, March 5, 1965: "It began with a few pounds of heroin...seizure of 76 pounds of pure heroin at Laredo Texas. That amount of heroin diluted and broken into small lots for 'pushing' in the underworld market is estimated to be worth $56 million when sold to addicts... its legal worth in the pharmaceutical trade is about $30 an ounce. In their futile endeavors to prohibit the use of narcotics North American legislators are maintaining an illicit traffic that guarantees its participants $1,500 for every dollar invested. It is no wonder the dope trade is never at a loss for recruits. [continues 227 words]
To the Editor: After reading several articles on the implementation of Marijuana Regulation (UDJ 21 & 22 Nov and PD 22 & 23 Nov) my earlier letter on the topic (UDJ 22-Oct) seems to have been spot on. The State of California's interest is in never ending quest for new sources of revenue from taxes and permit fees. With these new monies, they promise to fund things they have not adequately funded in the past (like roads and mental health) and likely have no intention to adequately fund in the future. [continues 285 words]
To the Editor: I am not a marijuana user and I am definitely not an advocate for its use. However, after reading about the new law which the governor just signed, I have to scratch my head. It seems the driver for the State of California is its endless quest for new tax revenue. For the growers, it seems they would be able to use their regulatory influence to form a defacto oligopoly to control the budding industry. Both of which will tend to keep the price of marijuana high, maintain the practice illegal 'commercial' grows, continue the activities of nefarious groups in our communities and on our public lands, and of course, will still require the need for law enforcement in this area. [continues 204 words]
In response to Betty Dodt's letter concerning Amendment 2 (medical marijuana), I believe her condemnation of marijuana to be extreme and unreasoned. We've seen a change in attitude towards pot in the past 10 years, as reflected in the culture; America's more progressive states have decided on legalization, both medicinally and recreationally. Visit The Netherlands and one will see a culture that doesn't have a drug problem even though soft drugs are legal there. It would seem to me that pot is as popular as ever due to these changing attitudes and information. Gone are the days of "Reefer Madness" hysteria and the misguided "Say No to Drugs" era. [continues 257 words]
The state should act on its own to end this wasteful burden on police and the courts. I'm surprised at the editorial position of The Portland Press Herald on marijuana legislation ("Debate on marijuana belongs in federal arena," April 21). The fact of a present disconnect between state and federal laws involving marijuana isn't a basis for dismissing the importance of L.D. 1453. To the contrary, the fact that states across America have enacted various statutes authorizing the regulated use of marijuana is strong evidence that the national perspective is changing. [continues 233 words]
In the March 31 article, "Prison term begins; Jason Ng admits to pot production" you start by saying "In most facets of his life, Jason Ng was a productive, upstanding citizen" and go on to imply that by growing marijuana he somehow made himself less than a productive, upstanding citizen. It's sad enough that Ng apologized even though he had done nothing wrong. Since a majority of Canadians want marijuana legalized, the continuation of marijuana prohibition is a crime against democracy. [continues 93 words]
Nadra Enzi's column "No mercy for crack dealers" proves to be an invalid argument against the equity of crack and cocaine federal guidelines. For the sake of his argument, I will assume that he intentionally failed to call crack by its proper name "crack cocaine." To call crack, crack cocaine would have forced Mr. Enzi to knowledge the fact that crack is a product of cocaine. Therefore, crack would not exist if cocaine did not exist. The quest for the equity of federal guidelines with respect to crack cocaine and powder cocaine is a human rights issue. [continues 109 words]
Assemblyman Tom Ammiano has made a proposal that could bring a lot more green to California's future, and I don't just mean money. Ammiano, D-San Francisco, has proposed a bill that would legalize and tax recreational marijuana. The Marijuana Control, Regulation, and Education Act would legalize the selling and consuming of marijuana to people ages 21 and over. According to Board of Equalization estimates, legalizing and taxing marijuana could generate around $1.3 billion per year from marijuana sales, $990 million from retailer fees and $349 million in sales taxes. [continues 590 words]
Olympic swimmer Michael Phelps was caught smoking weed and now we, being the gossip-hungry country that we are, have decided to make him front-page news for everyone to see. Phelps, arguably the best Olympic swimmer yet, was photographed smoking marijuana out of a water pipe, or bong, at the University of Southern Carolina in Columbia. Phelps has apologized and publicly shown remorse for his decisions. "I'm 23 years old, and despite the successes I have had in the pool, I acted in a youthful and inappropriate way, not in a manner that people have come to expect from me. For this, I am sorry. I promise my fans and the public - it will not happen again," Phelps said in a statement released by Octagon, his management firm. [continues 547 words]
Editor's note: This article was written earlier this month when the author was in Colombia. Bogota, Colombia -- Well, yet another fine setting I have managed to find my way into. I arrived in Colombia concomitantly with a raid by Colombian Commandos backed as always by U.S. military forces (Plan Colombia). The raid killed Raul Reyes and 16 other drug operatives and suspected revolutionary affiliate members. So what? That is good right? The world really does not need drug smuggling revolutionaries, do we? [continues 804 words]
Under a little-known caveat to a federal law, students convicted of minor marijuana offenses are seeing their financial aid go up in smoke. The Drug Offender Exclusionary Provision of the Higher Education Act is a law that, according to Department of Education numbers, has affected more than 200,000 students since its inception in 2000. The law established that students convicted of possession or sale of a controlled substance can be declared ineligible for federal financial aid - making college a monetary impossibility for many. [continues 814 words]
It's quiet out there -- too quiet. Typically when news from the front lines of the war on marijuana hits the streets it is followed by a hue and cry from those who would decriminalize the herb. But, in the wake of the announcement of new powers which permit municipalities to examine hydro electric consumption, in an effort to rid our communities of the grow-op scourge, few have stepped up to decry the move. Perhaps many are wrestling with the Big Brother nature of the new law versus the public safety issue of having illegal grow operations in our midst. [continues 252 words]
Holy smoke! Denver residents voted this week to decriminalize small amounts of marijuana in their newly re-defined "Mile High City." National marijuana-rights activists said don't hold your breath when it comes to expecting any initiatives in Western Pennsylvania anytime soon. The first clue might be that the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML) has chapters in such far-flung places as Kailua-Kona, Hawaii, Casper, Wyo., and Hermosa, S.D., but nary a one in Pittsburgh. [continues 482 words]
More Charges Likely In Investigation Of Former Narcotics Officer Shawnee County District Attorney Robert Hecht said Monday that he had dismissed criminal drug charges against 27 people because he couldn't assure the credibility and reliability of a material witness or the credibility of the evidence in the cases. He said in a news release that the necessity of dismissing the charges became evident "during the course of a joint investigation of activities of certain police officers conducted by the Kansas Bureau of Investigation and the District Attorney's Office." [continues 449 words]
Re: Washington Requests Raid On B.C. 'Pot Prince,' July 30. Any student of history knows a witch hunt when they see it. As a long time marijuana activist who has studied history, the arrest of Marc Emery on orders from the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency makes me fear for the future, for my country, for democracy, and also for myself and others involved in the growing fight for legalization. The United States government has silenced most of its domestic anti-prohibition activists, but Canadian communication outposts like Mr. Emery have allowed a skeletal movement to stay alive and keep the fight going. It is clear that America's powerful prohibitionist minority resents this and is using it as an opportunity to further consolidate its power over Canada with a show of force. [continues 133 words]
Oliver has a seamy underside, one that often goes unrecognized, driven by illegal drugs and the culture born of its use. Beneath the green and wholesome facade of agriculture and small town mores lies a sickness that is showing its face in the increasing number of thefts and other crimes tied to drug use. "Drugs are definitely a problem in town, "commented RCMP Const. Don Wrigglesworth. And there is no hesitation on his part when asked what the most prevalent drug is in this area and which one carries the biggest threat to the community's well-being. [continues 489 words]
I am writing this letter to persuade you to support putting the D.A.R.E. program back into Racine schools. Students at my school, Racine Christian, strongly agree with me. That is why the eighth-grade class conducted a D.A.R.E. program of their own so that my fifth-grade classmates and I would have the opportunity to learn about drugs since the original D.A.R.E. program was not available. They thought it was so important they took the responsibility to give us a six-session D.A.R.E. program. The following are my reasons for keeping the D.A.R.E. program in Racine schools. [continues 223 words]
CLOQUET - Fifth- and sixth-graders from several area schools took a life-changing step last week. They joined the ranks of students in 52 countries throughout the world by graduating from the D.A.R.E. (Drug Awareness and Resistance Education) program. Carlton County D.A.R.E. Officer Daryl Niemi hosted graduation ceremonies at Queen of Peace School, Esko, Fond du Lac Ojibwe School and St. Paul's Academy. D.A.R.E. graduates were joined by family members, friends, teachers and other students during the hour-long ceremony. [continues 251 words]
FLAG Pushing Tougher Laws A gaggle of federal Liberals is wading into the war on marijuana grow ops. South of the Fraser Federal Liberal Action Group is demanding changes to federal laws and police powers to crack down on the proliferation of grow houses cropping up in Surrey. FLAG and South Surrey White Rock Langley federal riding association managed to have the resolution passed at a national Liberal policy convention in Vancouver last week. "We were approached by citizens in Fraser Heights concerned there were seven or eight grow ops on their street," FLAG's Ginny Hasselfield said. [continues 300 words]
Judge Who Founded Program Ends Retirement There is usually little to cheer about in Drug Court. But cheers abounded last week as Drug Court participants welcomed back to the bench the once-retired judge who founded the program more than a decade ago. Before beginning court proceedings on Wednesday, Senior Judge Jack Lehman, 75, settled into his chair and, with a broad smile, re-introduced himself to about 75 participants who packed the crowded courtroom. "I'm back to stay and I will be handling Drug Court forward into the foreseeable future," he said. "I'm happy to be back." [continues 1042 words]
Kelly Thompson used to think that marijuana should be legalized. Then her mother, Sun Associate Editor and Vice President Sandy Thompson, was killed in August in a car crash caused by a driver under the influence of pot. Now Kelly Thompson has become a vocal opponent of a state ballot measure to make possession of 3 ounces or less legal. "Before any of this happened, I thought, 'Why not? It doesn't hurt anybody. It's all about the right to freedom,' " she said Friday. "But now I think, 'What about my mother's freedom to live?' " [continues 450 words]
Governor Calls Deficit 'Devastating' On his first day officially back to work after prostate surgery, Gov. Kenny Guinn on Wednesday called figures reflecting Nevada's deficit "devastating." Guinn, 66, called a news conference to assure the media he was in good health and has returned to work full-time after a three-week recovery. He underwent the surgery to remove his cancerous prostate Sept. 23. Data Guinn reviewed within the past few weeks show the state's deficit could be well over $300 million, he said. [continues 596 words]
This column is written by way of confession. I attempted to write it before the Carson City sheriff's primary election but during my research process, I became so depressed that I couldn't finish it. What depressed me to that extent? I was researching methamphetamine addiction among high school kids. I logged on to the Koch Crime Institute site and found e-mail after e-mail from people who were addicted or had been addicted to meth. After reading 20 or so of these letters, I became immobilized by the devastation created by the use of this drug and I couldn't finish the column. [continues 740 words]
Where are we exactly with this cannabis thing? The drug will be downgraded from Class B to a Class C by July 2003. The police are to expand Brixton's controversial "seize and warn" policy across London by the autumn. Does that mean I can sit on the steps of Brixton police station and skin up? No. It will still be illegal to possess cannabis and users can still be arrested for "aggravating factors" such as the involvement of children or "flagrant disregard" of the law. For simple possession the police are more likely to seize the drug and issue a warning. [continues 203 words]
Commander Paddick has an excellent record as a police officer and this has been capped by his scheme to target the dealing of hard drugs in Lambeth, an approach which a forthcoming Home Office report looks set to endorse (Letters, March 20). We should praise, not censure him. We should deal quickly with the minor allegations to a tabloid from his jilted lover. And above all, we should change the outdated law on cannabis. Darren Johnson Member, Metropolitan Police Authority, and Green group leader, London assembly [continues 113 words]
Nine o'clock on Friday night and Brixton high street is buzzing. Everyone is on their way home or on their way out for the night. But just a minute's walk away, in Coldharbour Lane, there is another group of people who are not going anywhere: the dealers. Hoods up against the cold, they lean against shuttered shop fronts and railings, checking out the passers-by. Coldharbour Lane has always been the place to go in Brixton if you want to buy drugs. Since last summer, the drug trade has become a lot more visible. In a 100-yard stretch, there are at least 20 people carrying out "business". [continues 257 words]
A month-long police investigation into indoor marijuana growing operations begun on Feb. 19 has netted quite a haul in the South Okanagan. From Westbank to Osoyoos and over to Princeton, RCMP executed 19 searches over a 15-day period and seized 3,950 marijuana plants along with all the growing equipment associated with these operations. Oliver was one of the communities targeted by the team of members from various police detachments in the South Okanagan. Team leader Cst. Terry Jacklin of the Penticton Property Crimes/Drug Task Force, said that over a five day period his team searched six properties in the Oliver area and seized approximately 2,000 plants. [continues 386 words]
On Nov. 7, UI students should take a moment from the presidential elections and watch the returns from Alaska. Alaska's Ballot Measure 5 would legalize marijuana for all adults. Furthermore, the measure would be retroactive, granting amnesty to many current prisoners of the war on drugs in Alaska. The measure made it onto the ballot with more than twice the required number of signatures. It is not surprising to see potential for such a bold move for freedom in Alaska. It is the only state libertarian enough to pay its citizens instead of taxing them. The idea that liberty extends to social policies as well as economic policies should not be surprising. [continues 348 words]
Costs Taxpayers Too Much The Herald is right in its Sept. 28 editorial, "No new taxes mean too few deputies in county." One only needs to realize that half of all the inmates in prison are there because of the war on drugs. If we intend to adhere to this policy, we need a lot more cops. In fact, if we only arrested and prosecuted pot smokers, we have over 50 million people in the U.S. that, per the existing laws, we need to send to prison. [continues 167 words]
The area around Southern Okanagan Secondary School may soon be declared a "Drug-free Zone." If that happens, the price of doing business in the illegal drug trade will definitely get more expensive. Sgt. Bryan Reid of the Oliver RCMP detachment is championing the program which originated in Kamloops and has spread to other BC communities, including Kelowna and Penticton. The program stipulates that a certain radius will be incorporated around the school and the neighbourhood and that radius will be designated hands-off to drug pushers and users. That means anyone caught in possession of drugs, trafficking in drugs or possession for the purpose of trafficking within the zone will face much stiffer consequences in the court system. [continues 212 words]
DEAN JOHNSON Sebring [end]
